Improvement in bee-hives



anni Ctifirr.

MONROE J. STEARNS, 0F GALESVILLE, WISCONSIN.

Letters Pagano. 111,696, dated February 7, 1871.

HMPRCVEMET IN BEE-HIVES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letten: Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom ttmay concern:

Be it known that I, Mormon J. STEARNS of Galesville, in the county of lrempealeau and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Bee-Hives; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction -and operation ofthe same, reference being had to the annexed drawing making apart of this specication, and tothe letters and gures of reference marked thereon.

Figure-l of the drawing is a representation of my bee-hive in perspective Figure 2 is a plan view of the base or bottom of the hive;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the hive through .line y y, iig. 2

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section of the same through line :z: a5, iig. 2; -and Figure 5 is a perspective view of one half the inner hive.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a bee-hive; and- In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and vuse the same, I will now proceed to descrle its construction and operation.

A represents'the bottom board or base, which contains two screens a a.

The legs B B form the cleats for the bottom board,

and form also the slides for the drawer C, as well as for the damper D back of the drawer.

On top ofthe board A are also two pieces,b b, ou which the inside hive rests, and which pieces form another set of cleats, preventing` said bottom board from warping.

-At the front of the bottom board A are three holes, d d, which are designed to take the millers down into the lighted drawer C, from which there is no chance of escape when they are once in.

The damper D back of the drawer is so constructed that the b ees maybe given more or' less air, as may be desired.

At therear ends of the cleats d d are grooves, in which is placed a slide, c, for the purpose of keeping the bees from going in between the hive and the case, and it can be raised up when necessary to clear the bottom board' of dead bees, giving` the rake a perfect chance to work.

The inside hive is composed of two separate boxes, E E, the inner adjoining sides and bottom being formed of slats.

The short slats f f form the rest for the comb at thel bottom of the hive. There are also tongue-guides, y g, at the top of the hive, to fasten the comb.

The top board of cach box lil is grooved on the under side to receive the upper| ends of the slats la, lz.,

and across the lower end is a bar, It, grooved ou bot-h the top and the inside to receive the' Aends of both the upper and lower slats, By removing a screw in each end of the bar la, the slats can be all taken out with the comb.

A false bottom, G is also connected with each of the boxes E, which bottoms are only used when it is desired to transferthe bees to another hive. These bottomsare provided with screens m to give the bees.

air -when they are operated with. They are slipped under and hasped ou, as shown in iig. 5, when ,desired to move the hive.

At the top of each box are two holes, a a, to let the bees up to the drawers H H, on top. These drawers are open at the bottom, with glass ends, and are kept in place by cleats t i, on the outside.

The slats hy h and j' f may be made of wood or metal. They serve the purpose of preventing the bees from connecting the comb in the two parts, and. leave the hive so it can be separated, one part taken out andan empty one putin its place.

There is also a cut-off, I, connected with this hive.'

This is made Vof tin, with anges onthree sides, and is used in transferring bees.

The outside case J isfirst removed; then slip the two false bottoms G G under and hasp them on then turn back the hasps thathold the two boxes together; then separate them just enough to get one of the cut-offs I down between them, and fasten it with a nail ou cach side; then slip the other in and fasten.

The bees in either one ofthe boxesmay now readily be transferred to an empty box without letting a single bee get out of the hive or be injured.

The outside case J is so constructed that it leaves a half an inch between it and the inside hive. This space is for dead air, making it cooler in summer and warmer in winter. This case is fastened ou with wire hasps and keys p on the bottom.

On the front ofthe casing J are guards K, so coustructed that if one swarm attempts to rob another,

they san be shut downso that one bee can guard the entrances s. Then at night theguard can be taken out' and turned over to close up the entrance. This sends the miller down iu the drawer C.

lVhcn the hive is closed in this manner for the v l 2. The box E, constructed as described, with slats its guards K K, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above Ihave hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

Moulton J. sTEAnNs.

Witnesses EDW. F. WADE, B. F. HEUsToN. 

